MNP: Over 21,000 Ghana subscribers change mobile providers after one month – NCA

Latest figures released by the telecoms regulator, National Communications Authority (NCA) say 25 days after Mobile Number Portability (MNP) was started in Ghana, a total of 21,059 subscribers have changed their mobile service providers.

In a press release issued Tuesday August 2, 2011, the NCA says as at Sunday July 31, 2011, 25 full days of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Ghana, 21,059 mobile phone subscribers had successfully moved from one mobile service provider to another whilst retaining their mobile numbers.

According to the NCA’s analysis of data for the period, 10% of porting was completed in 15 minutes or less, 23% was completed between 15 minutes and one hour.

It also shows that 34% of the process was completed between one hour and four hours, 31% completed between four and 24 hours and 2% was completed in more than 24 hours.

“The fastest port recorded so far in Ghana took place in a mere one minute, 10 seconds. The average port took place in five hours, 21 minutes from start to finish,” it adds.

When the process began on July 7, 2011, 150 subscribers had ported by the close of the first day and by the end of the third day on July 10, over 1000 subscribers had switched their mobile service providers.

MNP is a process that enables mobile phone customers to switch to another network provider and still keep their numbers including the code.

One can however, only port again after 30 days of the initial porting or thereafter.

Ghana has six mobile phone operators licensed to do business in the country. These are MTN, Tigo, Vodafone, Airtel, Expresso and Globacom. But Globacom is yet to start operations.

There is however, no information about which providers subscribers are moving from and to.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi